Delegation from The Kingdom of Thailand

Represented by Macalester College

Position Paper for the General Assembly Plenary Committee The topics facing the General Assembly Plenary committee this session are: 10-Year Review of the Implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, Elimination of International Terrorism, and Environmental Degradation as a Source of Conflict. The Kingdom of Thailand recognizes a great opportunity to address long-standing global issues as well as to assess our past efforts during this session. Thailand is extremely invested in each issue before our committee this year and is willing to work to ensure global solutions are reached. I. 10-Year Review of the Implementation of the Millennium Development Goals In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly created eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to foster international development, which are to be achieved by 2015. There is a disparity between countries regarding progress on the MDGs. Some countries are lagging behind; others that initially made progress are now falling behind due to the global economic and food crises. Because of the impending 2015 deadline, Thailand believes that an examination of the practices of both successful and struggling countries should be conducted to ensure that as many countries as possible can meet the MDGs they have not yet achieved by 2015. The Kingdom of Thailand is proud to be an internationally recognized leader in progress on the MDGs, with the majority of goals either achieved or on track to be achieved on time. The hard work that Thailand has put into the realization of the MDGs has led the nation to begin implementation of MDG-Plus goals, such as reducing poverty to four percent by 2015. The Kingdom of Thailand now intends to focus its efforts towards health care, especially pertaining to women and children. We propose a holistic approach to this goal by improving technology and education about healthcare. These measures will ensure sustainable change against infant and maternal mortality and will count as progress towards providing primary healthcare to all mothers and children on a national level. Thailand encourages other countries that are close to achieving their goals to work towards implementing country-specific extensions of existing MDGs. Thailand believes many of the strategies that have been successful in reaching MDG success can be translated and implemented in countries that are struggling to meet the goals. For example, focusing on one goal at a time allows for meaningful coalitions to be built between government and UN agencies. Thailand had success creating a partnership between the Ministry of Health and multiple non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which implemented several programs crucial to the achievement of MDG six: Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other Diseases. By taking existing programs such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and creating branches specifically for building coalitions with national and local governments, all countries can begin to build a framework for success, as the Kingdom of Thailand has already done. II. Elimination of International Terrorism Since the attacks on the United States World Trade Center in 2001, the UN has taken an increasing role in fighting international terrorism. Resolutions such as the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (A/RES/60/288) set out frameworks for effectively dealing with the matter on both the national and the international level. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has set up a Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) that briefs nations on the actions of the UNSC to sanction terrorist organizations and thereby attempt to diminish the resources of those organizations. Thailand applauds the efforts of the CTC and encourages the committee to continue its regular briefings to the General Assembly on its actions. The Kingdom of Thailand endorses the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations passed in April 2005, and continues to support the prevention of the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction by Terrorists. Thailand also recognizes the need for national action in addition to existing international initiatives. Without cooperation from individual member states, the strategy is meaningless, and Thailand encourages nations to take responsibility for eradicating terrorism as well. The increase in terrorist activities on a global level needs to be addressed by this committee. Thailand continues to review and support the Implementation of the 2001 United Nations Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects. Thailand has also formed The

Committee of Counter-International Terrorism (COCIT) to ensure that international policies are being implemented, and anti-money laundering tactics were put in place to discourage financing of terrorism within Thai borders. Through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Thailand has also worked closely with other AsianPacific nations to combat terrorism on a regional level, and created measures to counter biological and cyberterrorism as well. The Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, alongside bodies such as the CTC, is effective tools for creating guidelines for action: through these, regional regulatory bodies can be set up to create accountability for individual nations to carry out the directives given. Through these regional organizations, countries can meet to exchange ideas and ensure that all nations in the area are contributing to the elimination of international terrorism. III. Environmental Degradation as a Source of Conflict As global climates fluctuate, problems associated with climate change have come to light. Problems such as desertification and deforestation have put strain on many communities, and led to conflicts over the shrinking availability of resources. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has stated that the conflict in Darfur is directly related to climate change, and many smaller nations will be devastated - and in some cases destroyed - by even incremental changes in climate. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), there have been at least eighteen violent conflicts that have stemmed from shortages of natural resources since 1990, and that number will only rise as arable land falls victim to rising temperatures and sea levels, especially in countries where water and food are already scarce, including the Least Developed Countries. The Kingdom of Thailand believes that it is crucial to prevent further environmental degradation by strengthening existing protocols, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the recent Copenhagen Accord, including the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund. Thailand relies heavily on its rice crop, which a slight increase in temperature would destroy, leading to a shortage of food resources. In Thailands Initial National Communication to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in addition to preventative measures, a worst-case scenario adaption framework was outlined, including crop diversification and integrated watershed management, to ensure that if resources were to become compromised, Thailand could adjust farming tactics accordingly to extend the utility of the land and water. Thailand has also established an Office of Natural Resources & Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), under the Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment (MNRE), to help achieve our nation-wide goals. Referring to the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh, we will continue to hold Climate Change talks in Thailand to promote awareness and to act upon environmental degradation as a source of conflict. The Kingdom of Thailand continues to support the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and hopes to further the conventions and talks aiming at climate change control. Experts from many countries have stated that scarcity of food and water resources is the likeliest cause for conflict emerging from environmental degradation. To ensure that this problem is dealt with before it spins out of control, Thailand proposes that an additional ad-hoc committee be added to the UNEP that builds on the work done by its Conflict and Disaster branch to assess areas which may soon be sources of environmental conflicts in order resolve tensions before conflicts arise. Lastly, Thailand encourages programs such as UNICEF and the World Food Programme to focus aid in areas where arable land is diminishing. Thailand urges all countries to unite around this growing dilemma and create long-term solutions, as well as immediate relief plans surrounding global climate change.

Delegation from The Kingdom of Thailand

Represented by Macalester College

Position Paper for the General Assembly First Committee The topics before the General Assembly First Committee this session are: Illicit Arms Sales, Control of Conflict Minerals, and The Privatization of War: Employing and Arming Independent Militias? The Kingdom of Thailand recognizes the importance of each of these issues related to arms control in todays world and is eager to cooperate with other Member States to come to peaceful and beneficial solutions for each of these topics. I. Illicit Arms Sales The Kingdom of Thailand recognizes the disastrous socio-economic and humanitarian consequences of the illicit trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs), as well as the threats it poses to peace, reconciliation and sustainable development as described in the General Assembly resolution The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects (A/RES/63/72). Thailand is therefore determined to take all actionsdomestically and internationallyto prevent the diversion of conventional arms, including small arms and light weapons, from the legal to the illicit market, where they can be used for terrorist activities, organized crime, and other criminal activities as described by Towards an arms trade treaty: establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms (A/RES/63/240). Thailand firmly believes that illicit arms sales are caused by conflict, and by striving to eliminate conflict, the illicit sale of SALWs can also be eliminated. The Kingdom of Thailand has been a firm supporter of the United Nations Registry of Conventional Arms (UNRCA) and has reported its imports and exports of conventional arms to the Registry each year since its inception. Thailand endorses the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat, and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects as an internationally recognized, legally binding treaty on the sales of SALWs. Recommendations from the Programme of Action to enforce strict control over the import, production and possession of all arms as per the Programme have been successfully implemented in Thailand. Additionally, laws that create specific guidelines and regulations concerning arms exports have been enacted. Thailand shares the views expressed at various regional conferences that call for both demand-side and supply-side countermeasures to the escalation of arms trafficking among South East Asian states. The Kingdom of Thailand also considers the Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, Supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime a further step against illicit trade in SALWs. The Kingdom of Thailand furthermore supports the establishment of a United Nations open-ended working group to consider effective steps towards the implementation of the Programme of Action and calls for an international agreement on legally binding standards for conventional arms sales. Thailand supports The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects (A/RES/60/81) in calling for the implementation of the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Arms and Light Weapons, also known as the International Tracing Instrument, to ensure a faster and more effective means of tracking the movement of arms across borders. Thailand urges all Member States to implement their own laws in accordance with the Programme of Action, and to support all other similar agreements. II. Control of Conflict Minerals The Kingdom of Thailand recognizes and understands the difficult position that faces many countries regarding the dichotomy between inexpensive minerals and the negative impact of conflict minerals. As a prominent manufacturer of goods that contain minerals such as tin, tantalum, and tungstenminerals often involved with conflictThailand is committed to working towards ensuring that minerals available to use in production are conflict-free, yet still affordable. Thailand strongly supports any position that is able to balance good mining practices with affordable raw materials. Thailand calls for the creation of a program similar to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) for diamonds that will provide a clear supply history and allow the tracking of the origin of materials and the conditions of their extraction. Thailand proposes a system of certification for mines and suppliers and calls for all Member States to buy minerals from certified suppliers to an extent that is reasonably feasible. This program will not only

allow suppliers to certify their minerals but will also raise public awareness, as the KPCS did for so-called blood diamonds. The Kingdom of Thailand also supports UN efforts to resolve conflicts in areas, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that are epicenters of the problem of conflict minerals. Thailand recognizes the difficulties in doing so, but firmly believes that striving to alleviate the conflicts that are funded by conflict minerals will significantly decrease the amount of minerals mined unethically. Thailand encourages all Member States to support any program that leads to certification of minerals and hopes states choose to pledge to buy conflict-free minerals, and similarly hopes to commit to this pledge as far as economically feasible. Additionally, Thailand urges Member States to support UN peacekeeping measures in regions contributing to the mining of conflict minerals and to raise awareness for these issues in their own countries. III. The Privatization of War: Employing and Arming Independent Militias? The Kingdom of Thailand recognizes every countrys right to self-defense as specified in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, while warning against the serious consequences that result from the deployment of Private Military Companies (PMCs). Thailand believes warfare carried out through such auxiliary means is subject to looser control by Member States and is therefore at greater risk of perpetrating war crimes, such as illegal detention, execution, and torture of military prisoners as well as other violations of the Geneva Convention and its Additional Protocols. This has been seen particularly in the actions of the PMC Blackwater on behalf of the United States in Iraq, but this is far from an isolated case. In addition, the Kingdom of Thailand is highly concerned with the socio-economic effects PMC warfare has on involved civilians, including internal and cross-border displacement, uprooting, destruction of private and public property, and indiscriminate violence against women and children. The Kingdom of Thailand believes the protection of national integrity and political stability ought to be the primary aim when dealing with disputesespecially those in boundary regions. Thailand calls for full implementation on the international scene of measures put forth by the United Nations office for West Africa in its Background Paper on Integrated Strategies for Sensitive Border areas in West Africa. The Kingdom of Thailand suggests further international efforts towards pacification and economic development in border regions and other regions affected by conflict be undertaken in order to reduce the deployment of PMCs. Thailand also encourages other Member States to work towards the creation of internationally recognized standards of employment of PMCs in situations of conflict. Thailand also recognizes the potential benefits of PMCs in the realm of providing support for nations who do not have the resources or experience to train their own militaries. However, Thailand cautions against the use of PMCs as mercenaries in war zones, and encourages Member States to work together to create clear guidelines for the employment and deployment of PMCs.

Delegation from The Kingdom of Thailand

Represented by Macalester College

Position Paper for the General Assembly Second Committee The topics before the General Assembly Second Committee this session are: Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Development; Promoting Low-Carbon Economic Growth in the Developing World; and Protecting Developing Countries during the Current Financial Crisis. The Kingdom of Thailand recognizes the importance of each of these issues as they relate to the promotion of economic growth in the developing world. I. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Development The Kingdom of Thailand recognizes the large role that information and communication technologies (ICT) can take in facilitating and promoting economic development. Following the Asian financial crisis in 1997, the Thai government heavily invested in ICT in orderto generate long-term economic growth that enabled Thailand to compete in an integrated global economy. With the production, utilization, and distribution of information through ICT, Thailand has begun to invest in a knowledge-based economy to increase human capital and bridge the digital divide between rural areas and urban centers. Thailand was a founding member of the November 2000 e-ASEAN Framework Agreement that establishes an information infrastructure to complement national ICT initiative and to promote intraregional e-commerce. The Kingdom of Thailand supports the use of ICT as a mechanism for economic development beyond national borders and the regional scope of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). As demonstrated in Meeting of the General Assembly devoted to information and communication technologies for development (A/RES/56/258), Thailand recognizes the global applicability of ICT to promote inclusive and innovative development. Furthermore, recalling the two-part World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva and Tunis in 2003 and 2005, Thailand commends the attention that has been given to this topic on a global scale. However,to increase the propensity for positive developmental results from the implementation of global guidelines and goals as envisioned during the WSIS conferences, the Kingdom of Thailand encourages the implementation of educational training programs to provide needed technological literacy and training. II. Promoting Low-Carbon Economic Growth in the Developing World

The Kingdom of Thailand acknowledges that the promotion of economic growth in the developing world is counterproductive without also ensuring that such growth is both sustainable and has low-carbon emissions. Creating wealth through industrialization in the past century has come at the expense of environmental degradation. However, today economic growth and low-carbon emissions must no longer be mutually exclusive. Ranked as the worlds 24th highest emitter of greenhouse gases, Thailand is working to obtain long-term funding in order to transform its high-carbon emission industries in favor of environmentally friendly methods of production. In 2009, Thailand convened two joint missions to identify eligible low carbon projects for the Clean Technology Fund. Beyond its national agenda, the Kingdom of Thailand emphasizes the need to adopt a regional, as well as global, framework towards adopting development models that emphasize low-carbon emissions. The June 2009 AsiaPacific Forum on Low Carbon Economy is a strong first step to facilitate cooperation and integrate regional climate initiatives. Thailand supports the creation of similar regional coalitions around the world in order to promote lowcarbon development initiatives within ecological regions that face similar concerns. As opposed to the disappointing conclusion of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, such regional coalitions may be better able to produce legally binding frameworks based on mutual interests and economic networks. The Kingdom of Thailand furthermore supports the establishment of a United Nations working group to primarily assess the impact of the current financial crisis on funding for low-carbon emission projects. Secondarily, the working group would recommend steps to facilitate the shift of financial flows from fossil fuels toward low-carbon technologies.

III.

Protecting Developing Countries during the Current Financial Crisis

The Kingdom of Thailand believes that the protection of developing countries from further economic damage is an imperative first step towards promoting long-term development. While the collapse of the worlds financial system is no longer a principal fear, financial contagion has led to economic shocks throughout the world. Due to this economic interdependency, the possibility of a drawn out recession followed by slow economic recovery is a realistic global concern. Yet at the February 2009 ASEAN Summit, the Prime Minister of Thailand, Abhisit Vejjajiva, expressed optimism in facing this current crisis, stating, As the financial crisis deepens, the world will look towards our region for action and for confidence, which is exactly what we in ASEAN are set out to do. The Kingdom of Thailand acknowledges the first steps taken by the June 2009 United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development as outlined in Outcome of the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development (A/RES/63/303). Thailand also recognizes the importance of creating a working group to further address issues identified in the Conference, as seen in Establishment of an adhoc open-ended working group of the General Assembly to follow up on the issues contained in the Outcome of the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development (A/RES/63/305). With these previous actions in mind, the Kingdom of Thailand encourages that the General Assembly Second Committee work together to create programs that implement the recommendations of the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development.

Delegation from the Kingdom of Thailand

Represented by Macalester College

Position Paper for the General Assembly Third Committee The topics facing the General Assembly Third Committee this session are: Advancing Technology to Progress Development and Peace; the Implementation of a Global Standard of Education; and Implementing the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development. The Kingdom of Thailand recognizes the inherent connection among the topics proposed to the committee and acknowledges this moment as a pinnacle time in history to shape the future of our world through the advancement of technology, environmentally and humanitarianly conscious development, and movement towards peace and security. Thailand wishes to engage all Member States in a diplomatic fashion in order to produce effective solutions. I. Advancing Technology to Progress Development and Peace The Kingdom of Thailand is aware of the strong connection between peace and development. As nations lag farther and farther behind in an ever-increasingly technological world, these nations become susceptible to political instability and violent conflict, making investment for development within the country difficult. It is the role of the United Nations and its Member States to go beyond the relief of distress to create enduring foundations for progress, as stated within the Secretary Generals report An Agenda for Development (1994), so that the cycle of underdevelopment and instability is broken. Thailand believes that capacity development at individual and institutional levels and investment in and with local people is vital to creating sustainable technology advancement and development. Noticing a disconnect between international aid and investment and the capability of local peoples to sustain new technology as it is brought in to support communities, Thailand moved towards more localized approaches for solving development issues. The Baan Mankong (secure housing) Program, managed by the Thai governments Community Organizations Development Institute, coordinates community organizers, the Thai government, and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to create collective savings in order to install affordable and conventional sanitation facilities. Other nations would benefit from such a model that demonstrates the need and success of instilling development that local communities have the capacity and means with which to sustain independently. In support of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, particularly Article 12 on Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM), Thailand has invested heavily in environmentally sustainable technology advancement and currently has over 30 CDM projects running within the country. CDM is an apparent solution to both the reduction of green house gas emission reduction and technology advancement in developing nations. The Kingdom of Thailand also encourages Member States to consider developing international standards for trade of second-hand machinery and equipment in conjunction with the World Trade Organization (WTO). With over 90 percent of our textile machinery coming as second-hand imports, Thailand sees the need to develop standards that protect the environment and developing nations from receiving poor functioning equipment, as well as help developed nations with the process of machinery turn-over. II. The Implementation of a Global Standard of Education The Kingdom of Thailand considers education to comprise more than a right; it comprises the means for prospective development. The Kingdom of Thailand emphasizes the integral role a Global Standard of Education will play in attaining development via achieving higher living standards and maintaining long-term stability. Thailands constitution guarantees a free basic education of twelve yearsfrom pre-school to senior high schooland mandates a minimum of nine years' school attendance. In 2009, Jurin Laksanawisit, the Thai Minister of Education, made a significant fiscal allocation to cover textbooks, uniforms and other learning materials for students. This budgetary increase illustrates the Thai governmental focus on education. Laksanawisit has centered on incorporating an inclusive strategy to further promote education, suggesting that schools must allow parents, teachers, student board members and community representatives to reach collective decisions pertinent to how money will be distributed.

The delegation of Thailand also recognizes the faults of its educational system. Thai education is based on exams, creating students that focus solely on receiving high grades, and only learn how to enhance their test taking skills, rather than learning problem solving skills and cooperation. Such a system forces students to focus only on exam scores and does not allow them to develop other interests and skills. This is a problematic aspect of the Thai educational system, which the Thai government is willing to adequately address. III. Implementing the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development In 2006, Thailand was among the countries that first signed the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, realizing the barrier investment on small arms and light weapons creates for the development of low and middle income countries. Thailand constitutes an example of the smooth transition from a state of poverty to a state of economic development; its success stemming from efficient institutionalization and emphasizing the importance of agriculture. Thailands commitment to achieving the goals declared in the Geneva Declaration necessitates the countrys involvement in three pillars of action: advocacy, measurability, and programming. From an advocacy and programming standpoint, Thailand served as the host of the Asia Declaration on Armed Violence and Development meeting in Bangkok, Thailand is in commitment to work cooperatively at all levels to address the issue of violence and underline the importance of focusing on development, as articulated in the previous sections via focusing on attaining better technology and higher education. In the end, 23 countries embraced the AsiaPacific Declaration on Armed Violence and Development. Asia constitutes the region with the highest occurrence of armed conflicts. The significant costsnamely between USD 95 and USD 163 billions annuallyof such conflicts affect developmental attempts, functioning as a counterincentive: how can countries in violent crises be in the position to develop? From a measurability standpoint, Thailand does not exclude itself from making mistakes in the past, suggesting other countries should also recognize errors of the past. Political instability in Thailand, which intensified in 2005 and was followed by the short-lived coup dtat of 2006, discouraged investors and had a negative impact on the Thai economy. For this reason, the Kingdom of Thailand comprehends how important stability is to foster development, and hence desires to diminish violence and promote stability as a mechanism for economic prosperity. Thai exportssuch as agricultural commoditiesprovided the basis for the countrys return to stability. Thailands participation in the world trade helped confront political instability occurring within the country.

Delegation from The Kingdom of Thailand

Represented by Macalester College

Position Paper for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations The topics before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are: Solutions to Security Issues and Continuing Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea, Assessing the Progress of ASEAN Vision 2020 and Developing Adjusted Means to its Achievement, and East Asian Financial Cooperation and Integration. The overall position of the Kingdom of Thailand is to work towards a stronger Association of Southeast Asian Nations that can work towards the goals of improving regional security and development.

I. Solutions to Security Issues and Continuing Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea
The Kingdom of Thailand supports the continuation of settling the Security Issues and Territorial Disputes as related to the South China Sea through the Joint Development Authorities, preventing armed conflict and allowing ASEAN Member States to cooperate towards the development of individual national economies and of the nautical region. This can be achieved by encouraging balanced growth for all ASEAN nations. As a result, the Republic of China (ROC), Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea, along with the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) would not have any rights to territorial claims in the interest of balanced regional development. However, Thailand urges these countries to remain active in the development process as advisors to fellow ASEAN members who will lay claim to the territories in the South China Sea. Furthermore, the Delegation from Thailand wishes to reward those member nations who have abided by ASEANs charter, specifically the provisions regarding non-interference in the domestic issues of other member nations. While many of these stances may stand in conflict with existing territorial claims, the Republic of Thailand emphasizes that such an arrangement is essential for cooperative economic development and regional security for ASEAN nations and neighbors involved in South China Sea disputes. By spreading territorial claims to those more disadvantaged members, thus preventing overwhelming hegemony, ASEAN institutions will gain prominence and bring Member States closer to goals such as those mentioned in ASEAN Vision 2020. Finally, by using territorial claims as a form of enforcement for otherwise unenforced principles such as non-interference in domestic politics of fellow Member States, ASEAN will become a stronger entity by emphasizing its support for stated values. Thailand strongly supports the overall mission of creating a stronger ASEAN Community, promoting economic development, and improving regional cooperation and security. These are essential to making ASEAN more than the sum of our parts, as stated by former Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, which can only be done by the deepening of our cooperation in all areas and at all levels. II. Assessing the Progress of ASEAN Vision 2020 and Developing Adjusted Means to its Achievement ASEAN Vision 2020, as created in 1997, set out the principal goal of creating a Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality, as envisaged in the Kuala Lumpur Declaration of 1971. This goal encompasses a series of target visions including regional development, formation of a nuclear weapon free zone, creation of diplomatic solutions to all intra-regional conflict, economic integration, and environmental sustainability. The Kingdom of Thailand, as a member of ASEAN, recognizes the importance of the goals of ASEAN Vision 2020, particularly in light of the recent global economic crisis. Because economic solidarity is dependent on ASEAN interdependence, Thailand emphasizes the importance of creating a free trade zone among member states, the ASEAN Free Trade Area. A free trade zone is essential to strengthening ASEAN as an economic and political entity such as the European Union (EU). Additionally, Thailand realizes that due to current global economic conditions, financing of listed development initiatives is the greatest roadblock to the Vision 2020 plan. In spirit of Thailands model of ownership and property rights, the delegation from Thailand believes that it is both necessary to create well-defined property rights laws within our states and across the region and to create strong requirements of domestic ownership of all development projects. In addition, technologies and business models centered upon environmental sustainability should be highlighted; such an initiative will both place ASEAN Member States at the forefront of the international economy and encourage foreign investment as the importance of sustainability increases. This model of attracting Foreign

Direct Investment (FDI) while developing Member Nations in models originated from and embedded into their individual cultures will create sustainable long-term funding mechanisms that will provide Member States with the necessary resources for accompanying development goals. With regards to diplomatic goals set out in ASEAN Vision 2020, the Kingdom of Thailand underscores the importance of strengthening the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). It is only by strengthening this institution, and therefore creating a series of regimes to diplomatically solve all intra-regional disputes, that such a goal will be accomplished. Without a strong ARF, the delegation of Thailand would like to remind, ASEAN as a regional organization will lack the resources necessary to accomplish the goals set out in the Vision 2020 plan and will lack its deserved power as a regional bloc in order to increase regional presence in international trade and security policies. The delegation from Thailand believes that many setbacks have occurred stagnating the evolution of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and thus impeded progress towards the goals set out in ASEAN Vision 2020. Progress and resetting the means to such ends will involve both greater cooperation among Member States and revisiting domestic economic policies, potentially with the consultation of other ASEAN Member States. By focusing on the strength of individual ASEAN institutions, and overall organizational power, Member States can create the framework necessary to reach the vision of further developing their nations, and the associated benefits, such as an end to illicit drug trade, socioeconomic disparities, financial stability, and increased security. III. Promoting East Asian Financial Cooperation and Integration The Kingdom of Thailand believes a primary point of concern in financial cooperation and integration among ASEAN+3 members is the Chiang Mai Initiative (CMI). This initiative, a multilateral currency swap plan, has been essential to the relative economic stability of Member States since its formation in 2000. Despite prior faults with International Monetary Fund policy, a positive history with the organization during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and the salvaging of several of member states economies leads the Delegation from Thailand to continue to support International Monetary Fund (IMF) control over CMI. In addition, the Delegation from Thailand believes that movement towards more formal ASEAN structure has reaped positive results for financial and trade integration and thus work should continue on the creation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). However, the delegation from Thailand believes in the benefits of tariffs under those conditions presented as part of the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) as a method of protecting vulnerable core industries. As such, Thailand supports the adoption of a regional currency, but only for surveillance purposes. Because of the distinct goals of attracting foreign direct investment and creating regional independence, the delegation from Thailand encourages a Regional Monetary Unit consisting of a G3 basket with a selection of the more reliable currencies of the ASEAN+3 membership. This would help hedge ASEAN+3 Member State economies against various global financial issues and improve accounting measures among Member States, a matter of high importance for the strengthening of the AEC. While integration is essential, it is a time-consuming process. Thus, the Kingdom of Thailand encourages such measures as a form of transition to East Asian Financial Cooperation as ASEAN aspires to replicate an economic community similar to that of the European Union (EU).

Delegation of The Kingdom of Thailand

Represented by Macalester College

Position Paper for the Committee for Development Policy The issues facing the Committee for Development Policy today are: The Global Climate Change Development Nexus, Assessing the Development of Least Developed Countries and The Role of Microfinance in Promoting Development. The Kingdom of Thailand believes that this session is an opportunity to highlight international development issues of such a nature as present challenges to both developing and developed nations; illuminating these issues is the first step to empowering the people of all nations who are suffering most from inadequate natural, economic and information resources. I. The Global Climate Change Development Nexus

The Kingdom of Thailand recognizes the detrimental relationship between the failing global economy and the contingent degradation of efforts to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; Thailand is therefore committed to new and additional technology sharing and communication efforts aimed at bringing knowledge and power to all nations in their unilateral, multilateral and international efforts to reverse the process of global climate change. Thailand strongly supports forums such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which aim to address the relationship between development and climate, change in a comprehensive, cooperative manner. Parties to the UNFCCC 2009 (COP15) were charged with creating a comprehensive accord to act as an extension of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, but Thailand regretfully notes that COP15 was a failure in this respect. Sirithan PairojBoriboon, executive director of the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation, has noted that the Copenhagen Accord, as written and passed on the final day of COP15 represents a backdoor deal by leaders of only about 20 countries out of more than 190 nations represented at the talks. While Thailand commends the cooperation of nations such as the United States, China, South Africa, Brazil and India in recognizing their significant and increasing GHG emissions, the commitment of a few developed nations is not enough to sustain economic growth strong enough to facilitate an equal reduction in GHG on the global scale. At present, the Kingdom of Thailand is most concerned about the lax recommendations for the distribution and flow of the USD $30 billion in pledged funds directed towards adaptation and mitigation (Decision -/CP.15, Clause 8) and the Technology Mechanism (Clause 11). As long as the guidelines, recommendations and mechanisms of The Copenhagen Accord remain vague, nations, especially Non-Annex I Parties, will have little incentive to create or enhance national guidelines to limit the increase in global temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius. Towards the reduction of GHG emissions on a national scale, Thailand has approved more than 30 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects since 2007. The focus of these projects is to increase the role of national corporations in GHG reduction; these projects work alongside emissions trading and joint implementation, as recommended in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Many of the projects have focused on the generation of heat and electricity from abundant organic resources such as rice husk and sugarcane, as well as waste heat. As a Non-Annex I Party to the Kyoto Protocol, which Thailand ratified in August 2002, the government is committed to tracking the success of each project through inception to development. As a developing, newly industrialized nation vulnerable to the effects of extreme climate change, Thailand is committed to improving information sharing and financial cooperation on an international scale that builds upon the premises of the Kyoto Protocol and staves off further increases in global temperature. II. Assessing the Development of Least Developed Countries

As a developing middle-income nation, The Kingdom of Thailand is strongly committed to the proper assessment of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which will allow timely graduation and sustained growth in these vulnerable nations. Thailand recognizes that a significant portion of the development onus should be placed on the LDCs themselves, but is firmly committed to the economic and technical support of these nations as they move towards graduation. Although graduation is considered the ultimate goal of LDCs, and is imminent for Samoa and Maldives, Thailand recognizes that these nations have very little incentive to graduate; if successful in this attempt, they will lose special trade and aid status internationally and will be forced to develop their still limited economies under more difficult circumstances. For this reason, Thailand is committed to discussing post-graduation development options that take into account the fragility of newly graduated nations in addition to continued consideration of nations still categorized as LDCs.

Thailand regularly imports 3% of its annual total from LDCs, more than twice the amount of any other middleincome nation or Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member. Thailand also maintains the lowest trade-weighted average tariffs on imports from LDCs among Asian nations and approximately 93% of Thailands Official Development Assistance (ODA) goes to LDCs each year. Although the Thai government has been recognized for these contributions to the growth of LDCs, The Kingdom of Thailand firmly believes that all Member States, including developing nations, must commit to continued cooperation with LDCs on economic, social and technical levels in order to encourage their progress towards graduation, strengthening these nations for this eventuality. Consequently, Thailand supports the recommendations of the Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (A/CONF.191/13), especially the contents of Commitment 3: Building human and institutional capacities, which encourage private sector involvement to complement public sector provision of social infrastructure and social services within an appropriate regulatory framework (Section A, clause 32d) alongside other special provisions and considerations. Thailand is further guided by the Brussels Declaration, which recognizes that the LDCs are still marginalized in the world economy. Promoting their development towards the goal of graduation, and along the lines of Millennium Development Goal 8, will require economic and social exchange that recognizes their special circumstances but also forces their economies and governments to adapt to the changing international climate. Therefore, Thailand also supports the recommendations Implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 20012010 (A/RES/63/227), and looks forward to the production of a Plan of Action for 2011-2020 that takes into account the drastic changes in global economy and considers the current low graduation rate of LDCs. III. The Role of Microfinance in Promoting Development

The Kingdom of Thailand, drawing from the experiences of nations such as Morocco, Pakistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina, believes that microfinance is still a viable project during the current financial crisis. Research by the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (GCAP) showed that the repayment crises experienced in these nations was not due to the global financial crisis, but to rapid growth in the past five years, which has made repayment increasingly difficult. The report, Growth and Vulnerabilities in Microfinance, outlines three major vulnerabilities in the microfinance industry (MFI) that will continue to affect borrowers and organizations even after the financial crisis has passed: concentrated market competition and multiple borrowing, overstretched MFI systems and controls and the erosion of MFI lending discipline. Thailand believes that the contents of this report should be considered in the final report of the Committee for Development Policy in order to consider other pressing issues associated with MFI, such as ruralising microfinance efforts, considering local MFI policy and pinpointing the most effective forms of microcredit. In November 2009, the Economic Cabinet, along with the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Bank of Thailand (BOT), approved the Financial Sector Master Plan Phase II (FSMP Phase II), to be implemented from 2010-2014. The FSMP Phase II encourages competitiveness and new providers in Thai financial institutions in order to raise the treatment of clients and consumers; Phase II also encourages diversification of expertise within the financial sector, calling for the new entry of providers with expertise and success in microfinance specifically. The MOF and BOT anticipate strengthening of grass-root communities through knowledge sharing between successful microfinance experts and local grass-root micro institutions, which would lead to greater financial strength and financial immunity for all groups of the Thai society. In the spirit of this grassroots development, Thailand condones the efforts of Common Interest International, a project promoting a village bank model in Northern Thailand. This model encourages the creation of local banks that can assist in savings management, which increases the ability of borrowers to pay back their loans. This initiative is feasible in both urban and rural settings and it promotes cooperation between borrowers in order to increase overall repayment of microloans. With the continued success of MFI globally and the FSMP Phase II in mind, the Kingdom of Thailand supports microfinance policy that operates locally and regionally, to encourage the cooperation of nations with similar obstacles. While Thailand supports and benefits from global microfinance efforts, Thailand believes that policy recommendations made by the CDP during this session should focus on increasing local efforts. Further, the effectiveness of the village bank model should be assessed.

Delegation from The Kingdom of Thailand

Represented by Macalester College

Position Paper for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The topics before the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are: International Cooperation, Burden and Responsibility Sharing in Mass Influx Situations; Local Integration as a Durable Solution; and Enhancing the Protection of UNHCR and NGO Workers in Conflict Zones. With over 1.4 million refugees and nine government-run camps along the border, the Kingdom of Thailand is experiencing detentions and a shrinking of space for refugees and asylum-seekers. The Thai government is dedicated to shaping its refugee policy to better facilitate these statelessness issues. I. International Cooperation, Burden and Responsibility Sharing in Mass Influx Situations

Surrounded by conflict-ridden countries and massive refugee inflows, the Kingdom of Thailand considers itself to be a special case in refugee mass influx situations. Although not a signatory to the 1951 United Nation Convention and Protocol, its good record in hosting over 1.2 million refugees shall be recognized by the international society. Thailand maintains a strict distinction between refugees in camps and the refugees co-nationals outside camps. For camp-based population of refugees, Thailand focuses on improving the national screening mechanism for asylumseekers. The Thai government will cooperate cohesively with UNHCR to conduct Refugee Status Determination (RSD) for urban refugees to meet their basic needs, and continues to seek joint programming opportunities with other UN agencies. Thailand values the importance of domestic practices and jurisprudence, as well as the NonRefoulement Principle, and in practice, Thailand has been working on providing refugees with rudimentary protection on a temporary basis. Under the guidance of Agreement between the UNHCR and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand, the Thai government will continue to adhere to the Bangkok Principles adopted by the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee and uses this as guidelines of standards for treatment accorded to the displaced persons. II. Local Integration as a Durable Solution

The Kingdom of Thailand prefers more discretion to manage refugee flows. The fact that certain camps have served as resistance fighters and insurgents, as well as refugees involved in drug-smuggling, is disturbing. Driven by these national security concerns and a fear of an upsurge in refugee populations, Thailands policy on refugee labor reflects the best interests towards the relevant communities. Refugees have enjoyed the protection and support from the Thai government in refugee camps for a long time. They are given the rights to use their earnings to improve lives, which leads to camp commerce. Basic resources, such as food, shelter, sanitation, and basic services, including medical care and garbage removal, are guaranteed. While dealing with such groups in the most humane manner possible, the Thai government does not eliminate the possibility of sending military force into camps to restore order. Thailand remains unwilling to facilitate local integration in the form of legal status and residency rights. An efficient resettlement plan can play a positive role in opening up possibilities to improve local conditions for the remaining refugees, especially in areas of livelihood and education. Thailand has already indicated in-principle agreements towards that direction. The current focus for durable solutions lies on third-country resettlement. The Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the Kingdom of Thailand and the European Community is one notable example of bilateral cooperation on refugee issues. Also, Japan started to accept 30 Myanmar people a year from Thailand from the year 2009, with support from UNHCR. Thailand regards such pilot programs as a significant milestone in further developing our refugee programs. Thailand will sustain the good working relationship with NGOs and grant NGOs access to refugee camps for a more transparent screening mechanism. Meanwhile, Thailand is readily preparing for spontaneous repatriation in case of a regime change. However, Thailand is still open to shaping its legal framework towards realization of refugee labor potential. A new system for continuous and dependable refugee registration process would be in consideration. Thailand believes that the political will to achieve this, combined with the current means of the present NGOs and the resettlement programs, can make the refugees presence less of a hardship for Thailand than is the case today.

III.

Enhancing the Protection of UNHCR and NGO workers in Conflict Zones.

Guaranteeing the minimum of security conditions to NGO staff is more difficult. The killing of two UNHCR staff, abduction of one more in Pakistan, and slaying of three in Afghanistan earlier this year serves as a lesson. A strategic relationship between UNHCR and governments is essential to ensure the level of practical protection. On a basic level, Thailand is dedicated to monitoring staff vaccinations and implementing standardized health kits adapted according to national situations. Moreover, a plan on establishing the Office for Supervising the Affairs of Foreign Agencies to coordinate with NGOs is underway. NGO aid workers are suggested to report their conditions and progress to the Office. The set up would also help local NGO workers networking and advise on treatment and care for workers physically, psychologically and socially. As to Thailands situation where drug smuggling is a concern, the Medical Evacuation Plan shall be seriously adopted. A system to assess workers skill and psychological endurance ability during training is needed to ensure the efficiency and the well-being of the workers. Thailand recognizes the great contributions NGOs, such as Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator (UNSECOORD), has made and will continue to support the work. As a member of the Human Security Network, Thailand commands progress in the area of protecting civilians and stresses the importance of protecting the dignity of workers, as well as their physical safety. Thailand will continue to act as a political backing for peacekeeping operations and humanitarian aids to combat impunity in conflict zones.

Delegation from The Kingdom of Thailand

Represented by Macalester College

Position Paper for the World Food Programme The topics before the World Food Programme (WFP) this session are: Changing Market Policies to Address Hunger; Addressing the Impact of Hunger on Disease; and Enhancing Disaster Reduction Strategies to Avert Famine. The Kingdom of Thailand is dedicated to enacting multifaceted approaches to address both the immediate and long-term problems associated with hunger and malnutrition. I. Changing Market Policies to Address Hunger Currently, one billion people live in hunger around the world. The Kingdom of Thailand recognizes the urgency of meeting the needs of those suffering, through changing policies to better address the issues. Thailand adheres to the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition (UDEHM) and calls upon Member States to work to fulfill these rights while acknowledging the problems associated with failing to do so. The prevalence of hunger is not caused by a lack of food in the world, but simply a lack of access to food. Action must be taken to relieve the suffering of those living in hunger. The delegation of Thailand draws attention to our nation's home-grown school feeding program, as enacted in the Fund for School Lunch of Primary School Act B.E. 2535, and recommends that other states with high levels of hunger implement similar policies. The benefits of this program are two-fold; Thailand supports local agricultural and economic development while addressing the cycle of poverty and working to break it. Giving children access to food in schools increases their academic success and improves their chances to escape poverty. Funding is critical to the success of such programs, thus Thailand recommends that the WFP work with individual States to provide resources to launch similar programs. Thailand saw a significant decline in the number of malnourished children after implementing this policy, from 18 percent in 1992 to 8.42 percent in 2005. These programs foster increased nutrition of students, academic achievement of students, development of local agriculture, a prevention of price increases, and a decrease in barriers for local farmers to access markets. Worldwide, the WFP fed 20.5 million children in 2008 through school meals programs. Thailand encourages the WFP to increase its use of school feeding programs because they have proven to be so effective. The key to decreasing the international prevalence of hunger is to increase economic growth of developing nations, as stated in The Provision of Food Surpluses to Food-Deficient Through the United Nations System (Resolution 1496 (XV)) from the October 27, 1967. This will result in an increase of food production. Thailand is an agricultural-based country with many rural farmers, and is one of the leading rice exporters, thus understands the need for farmers to have access to local and international markets. Thailand endorses the recommendations made in the Declaration of the High-Level Conference on World Food Security: The Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy for countries to revise their policies and thereby increase technology for farmers and remove the barriers to markets and exporting. Solving the problem of hunger is critical for all nations, and is possible with the collaboration of Member States in changing market policies. The countries of Brazil, Ghana, and India have found success with school feedings programs similar to Thailand's, clearly demonstrating the versatility and effectiveness of this solution around the world. Changing policies to enable farmers to have better access to markets and technology will ensure their economic development, along with the development of their countries. Thailand encourages Member States to act to solve hunger through these solutions. II. Addressing the Impact of Hunger on Disease The issues of hunger and disease are highly inter-connected, and the world cannot solve disease without reducing hunger. The Kingdom of Thailand is deeply saddened by the number of people, especially children, who die each year from hunger related diseases and malnutrition. Hunger and malnutrition leave victims more vulnerable to chronic diseases, stunted development, and weakened immune systems. However, some diseases are not caused by hunger, but exacerbated by it, such as Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS. Thailand recognizes the curability of TB and encourages Member States to invest resources in distributing treatment

drugs to people and nations that do not have the resources to pay for the medications themselves. It is vital to continue the WFP's work in distributing food to those suffering from both HIV/AIDS and TB. The suffering from disease is intensified by hunger, and without solving for hunger, victims will not be able to improve their health. The WFP must work in conjunction with other bodies in the United Nations (UN) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that administer TB drugs and can then provide them with food. Without solving the issue of hunger, there is no possibility to cure those suffering from disease. Because of the detrimental impact hunger on diseases, strategies to decrease disease rates must be planned in conjunction with food security methods. Member States have a moral obligation to alleviate the suffering of those inflicted with disease, especially for preventable illnesses with cures and vaccinations. Thailand urges Member States to provide medical technology, medicine, financial resources, and food. These factors together will provide a global decrease in illness. III. Enhancing Disaster Reduction Strategies to Avert Famine The Kingdom of Thailand understands the importance of disaster reduction strategies because of the tsunami that ravaged the country in 2004. Without aid relief, the country's recovery from the disaster would have been greatly hindered. Thailand firmly supports immediate aid relief in the wake of a natural disaster and strongly encourages long term solutions to prevent catastrophes from occurring. With proper preparedness, the negative consequences of a natural disaster can be minimized. The country of Thailand is susceptible to natural disasters such as floods, droughts, typhoons, and fire. To mitigate the detrimental effects of these disasters, Thailand has a National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC), to provide early warnings of disasters and to conduct drills to ensure preparedness, and a Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), to oversee disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts. The government's high priority of DRR has enabled these programs to be successful. The delegation from Thailand urges Member States to adopt similar programs domestically, while also stressing the importance of international cooperation. Thailand supports the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 that aims to minimize the ravaging consequences of natural disasters through DRR, building and strengthening infrastructure to mitigate effects of disasters, and emergency preparedness plans. Endorsing the guiding principles of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Thailand emphasizes the need for DRR to be an important focus of governments, to understand what risks each community faces and how best to prepare for the possible disasters. Recalling resolution 1999/63 of the Economic and Social Council and The International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction: successor arrangements (Resolution A/RES/54/219 of the General Assembly), Thailand encourages all states to prioritize national platforms for disaster reduction, with special consideration for international cooperation in addressing national disasters. In order to evaluate the risks of an area, establish goals to reduce risks of disasters, and to plan and implement policies to reduce the incidence of disasters, Thailand urges all Member States to implement a national platform for DRR. National platforms must be monitored and evaluated in order to maximize their success. Recalling the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (A/RES/44/236), Thailand encourages Member States to increase resources for the researching and development of technology, such as meteorological stations that are able to analyze weather patterns and predict catastrophes such as drought. This will encourage the discovery of innovative solutions for predicting natural disasters. Investing in such research is critical to mitigating the loss of life, property, and reducing subsequent social and economic problems.